I just bought the vfd upgrade is it worth it to upgrade to hdz z axis? On my Shapeoko pro
I have both and love both. To be fair I immediately installed the HDZ so I don’t know how good the standard Z is. That being said the HDZ has been very precise and accurate.
The main selling point for me on the HDZ was its ability to raise the bottom of the tool to the height of the gantry. That means you have the maximum machining height possible on the machine without having to adjust the spindles position in the mount. You can also be sure that at full retraction at the end of your operation that the tool will clear any fixturing you’re using.
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I thought that I read on their website that the HDZ upgrade was recommended.
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Depends on what the weight is.
If it’s a 65mm air cooled like the one Carbide 3D offers, the ZPlus on it works great. It is is lightweight for a spindle.
If it’s an 80mm water cooled… get the HDZ. Those spindles weigh a ton. 
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I just upgraded from the Z-plus to the HDZ when I bought a 65mm spindle. The Z-plus could have handled it, and the HDZ is a bit pricey, especially when you get the upgraded spindle mount. But I really love how solid it is and the smooth movement. If you have the extra $, go for it if you’re on the belt drive, I think it’s pretty much recommended to go to upgrade to either the Z-plus or HDZ.
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